Archives

Friday 16 April 2010

The Federal Government says it will introduce legislation later this year to regulate executive pay. The Government says the legislation will be broadly based on the Productivity Commission's recommendations to increase the accountability of company boards when deciding remuneration. More

An Immigration Department spokesman says the situation is tight at the Christmas Island detention centre. A day after 130 asylum seekers were unloaded at the island another boat carrying 80 more people has been intercepted nearby. Detention centres offshore and onshore are now at over capacity, posing more problems for the Federal Government. More

The NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson says he won't sign Monday's national health agreement until verbal assurances he's been given by the Prime Minister are reflected in the deal. The Premiers and Territory leaders will have a phone hook-up later today for more talks. More

Queensland's Premier supports the Commonwealth's plan to provide a greater share of hospital funding but morale is low in Queensland's hospitals, where many staff fear the funding model will only perpetuate blame shifting. And some warn the Sunshine State must be seen differently to its southern counterparts because of its big decentralised population. More

The aged services sector is backing the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's plan to deliver a seamless health system for older Australians. The states and territories are facing a looming crisis with an ageing population. But community care groups say the current system is confusing and stymied by doubling up. More

The Federal Education Minister appears to have got off to a good start with her decision to review government funding for every school in the country. Representatives from both independent non-government schools and the public school system are expressing support for the process. They say they trust the Deputy Prime Minister's guarantee that no school will be worse off. More

UN investigators have accused Pakistani authorities of failing to prevent the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and of inadequately investigating her death. While not apportioning direct blame, the report raises questions about the role of Pakistan's then president, General Pervez Musharraf, and his security agencies. More

US President Barack Obama found support from Buzz Aldrin for his plan to scrap a mission to the moon. The second man on the moon agrees with the President's decision to set America's sights higher and plan a mission to Mars in 2030. Neil Armstrong disagrees and is joined by other former astronauts who describe the move as devastating. More

As Sudan's first election in more than 20 years comes to a close there are hopes it may strengthen the country's damaged democratic institutions. The All Africa Conference of Churches has been working to spread awareness and understanding of the political process and the role that elections can play in rebuilding the country. More

Palaeontologists and environmentalists are worried that a proposed $30 billion gas plant on the north-west coast could threaten some of the world's best preserved dinosaur footprints. Palaeontologist Steve Salisbury says the world's only example of fossilised bony stegosaurus footprints exist north of Broome and they're threatened by Woodside's planned development there. The Heritage Council says there is a chance the footprints may be heritage listed if locals tell it exactly where the footprints are located. More